PIRCE, William Almy, a Representative from Rhode Island;
born in Hope, Providence County, R.I., February 29, 1824;
attended the common schools and Smithville Seminary (now Lapham Institute);
taught school;
manager of the store and countingroom of his fathers cotton mill in Simmons Upper Village, R.I., for ten years;
engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods 1854-1863;
served in the State senate in 1855;
member of the State house of representatives in 1858 and 1862;
assessor of internal revenue for the second district of Rhode Island 1862-1873;
appointed paymaster with rank of major in the State militia in 1863;
again a member of the State house of representatives 1879-1881;
again served in the State senate in 1882;
delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1880;
member of the Republican National Committee in 1880 and 1884;
presented credentials as a Republican Member-elect to the Forty-ninth Congress and served from March 4, 1885, to January 25, 1887, when the seat was declared vacant on account of irregularities in the election;
justice of the peace and assessor of taxes in Johnston, R.I.;
died in Johnston, R.I., March 5, 1891;
interment in Swan Point Cemetery, R.I.